Guide to the 48th Annual Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships in Virginia Beach
Here is your visitor's guide to the Vans & Monster Energy present the 48th Annual Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships. The Coastal Edge ECSC is a really a celebration of beach lifestyle and the sports, sights, sounds and people that live in or visit our seaside community. It is America's oldest surfing competition and second oldest in the world. Here's the skinny on how to act like you've been there before.
 WHAT TO TAKE-
•Sunscreen
•Sandals, footwear
•Hat/head cover
•Sunglasses
•Bag/tote/carry-all
•Cell phone
•Portable Radio
(Away from the Main Stage, tune in to this year's radio partners: 96-X, BOB-FM 93.7, US 106.1 and WNIS 790 and WTAR 850 AM)
•Cash
•ECSC T-shirt sales tents accept credit cards, but many of the food vendors do not. (ATMs are available at nearby stores on Atlantic, but they carry hefty access fees (about $3)
•Valid government-issued picture ID (driver's license, military ID, etc.) - Don't even try to obtain adult beverages without one
•Beach chair
(This is optional. There is going to be a lot to see and do, so there will be a lot of walking. But do bring one if you plan on watching a competition for more than a few minutes)
•Binoculars
WHAT YOU CAN GET WHILE YOU'RE THERE-
•Food (fair/festival type options)
(Hot dogs & sausages, Pizza by the slice, Grilled pitas, wraps, cold fruit drinks, fries, popcorn, nachos, pretzels, funnel cakes, iced cream or icy treats.)
•Adult Beverages (non-alcohol, alcohol, water, soft drinks, sports drinks, etc.)
•Samples: Many sponsors provide free samples during the weekend....
•ECSC T-Shirts - The classic take-away from ECSC. You can't really call yourself a local if you live here and don't have at least one of these in a dresser somewhere. Price: $18 for t-shirts. Tank tops, sweaters and tie dyes will be available, as will plus sizes for additional costs.
True locals have two kinds of ECSC Tees:
- Weathered - Not bought pre-broken in, these older, worn, partially faded shirts from ECSC's five or more years ago shirts came by it naturally. And great memories are attached (or spilled) on each one. Now relegated to gym work-out wear or house and yard work
- "New ones" - From recent years, somehow these have remained clean enough to wear out to concerts, ball games, picnics, perhaps even casual bars or restaurants. These are saved to be worn at just the right occasion.
WHERE TO PARK-
Look, this is a beach town in August. So don't complain if you cruise down at 2 p.m. on Saturday and can't find a parking place. Get there early and stay a while or pay the $10 to park and just deal with it.
Best Bets for the Planet: Consider taking public transportation. At least from other municipal, private lots along Pacific Ave. Then pay the fare & take the TRT Trolley down Atlantic Ave. to the Loop. OR
Take a bike. Ride it no lower than 6th Street (bikes clog up the boardwalk for pedestrians) and chain-lock it to the railing. Walk with the rest of humanity down to the main section of ECSC on the boardwalk or sand.
Best Places: (whatever the price, well worth it to park nearest the event)
1)5th Street & Pacific Ave. (Private lot)
2)a.k.a., "The Loop Lot" inside Atlantic Ave. turn-around
3)4th Street Municipal lot, a.k.a., across from Budget Lodge motel
4)Star of the Sea church lot (private lot)
5)9th Street Municipal Parking Garage
Where NOT to Park:
1.DO NOT park in lots of businesses, restaurants or stores; be kind and let customers park there. Most places will tow non-customers anyway, but just obey the No Parking Signs and avoid the hassle altogether.
2.City resident parking permits are required for neighborhoods of Croatan and Shadowlawn, so be careful NOT to park where prohibited.
3.Any of the condominium entryways between 1st and 5th Streets
From the City's official website:
Resort Area Parking -- The parking division is responsible for the administration, operation, maintenance, and revenue collection for the City-owned parking spaces located both on-street and in off-street facilities including 25th Street, 19th Street, 4th Street, Croatan, and Sandbridge municipal parking lots, as well as the 9th Street and 31st Street garages.
Contact Information: Resort Management Office, Parking Division
401 19th Street
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Direct: (757) 385-6667
Fax: (757) 437-4731
WHERE TO EAT-
Consider making a day of it: have a relaxed, sit-down meal in air conditioning or outside table at a local Oceanfront restaurant and having a second meal or snack and drinks down at ECSC. Spread the wealth around with your patronage.
ECSC Beach vendors
•Grace & Sarah (pitas, sausages, hot dogs, corn dogs, fries)
•Grace & Sarah Ltd. (crab cakes, catfish)
•Boneheads Beach Bistro (pizza, pretzels, funnel cakes)
•Strawberry St.
•Cocobongos
•Pops Kettle Korn (popcorn, nachos & cheese, fresh lime and lemonade)
WHERE TO DROP YOUR CHAIR & TOWEL-
Adults -
•On chairs near the main stage, or anywhere in the fenced area between the surfing and backstage between 4th and 5th Streets
•Anywhere around the beach volleyball courts from 6th Street to 7th Street
•Standing near the "Beverage Tent" then walking over to the Main Stage oNEW this year: "Beverage Tent" near the surfing competition area
Teens -
•On beach towels near the water, between 3rd Street and the Amateur Surfing Competition Area
•Walking around the boardwalk from 3rd Street to the Skateboard Park
•Sitting or walking near the Surfing Judges scaffolding at 2nd Street
WHEN TO GO .....
•All events/sports/activities, go to: www.surfecsc.com
Friday-Sunday:
•Coastal Edge Mini Ramp Jam - various times
•BMX & Skate Demos - various times
•Live Music - various times
Saturday-Sunday:
•Beach Volleyball Tournament
•World Sand Soccer Assn. Tournament
•US Beach Flag Football Championships
•Beach Cornhole Tournament
•Adult Whiffleball Tournament
Saturday - 8-K Race & 1 K "Fun Run": 8 AM
Sunday - Wareing's Gym Beach Bum Triathlon: 8 AM
Surfing: August 25-39, 2009 (7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Pro and Am action)
•Pro (Pro heats will be posted at www.surfusa.org)
•Pro women, juniors and long board surf on Friday, August 27
•Pro men start first round at 7 AM on Saturday, August 28|
•Heats are seeded, but everyone is in first round
•Final heats are Sunday afternoon August 29, depending on the tides and the break (usually @ 2 to 3 p.m.) The pro divisions will be awarding a cash purse and will award valuable national rating points.
•The Bud Surf Team expression session, Saturday afternoon.
•Amateur
•One of the most exciting and certainly fun competitions will be held at noon on Saturday, August 28 with the "Super Groms." This division is "free" and is for competitors 9 years or younger. (Parents typically go out in the water with them and push them into waves. Competitors as young as 3 years of age, and it is a real joy to watch the enthusiasm and spirit of the children.)
Miss ECSC Swimsuit Pageant
What's a classic American beach party without a good old fashion swimsuit contest? This year hosted by the International Bikini Team
•Preliminaries: Saturday, 4-5 p.m.
•Finals: Sunday, 4-5 p.m.
WHAT NOT TO BRING-
Leave at home to avoid hassles.
•Bikes (Below 6th Street)
•Boom boxes (do they still make these?)
•Coolers (OK, you can bring them, but they're not necessary. Takes up lots of space and you have to carry it around. Pretty much everything you'd care to eat or drink is right there, on the beach. And remember, proceeds help the Jaycees' charitable causes.)
•Pets. Yes, even dogs on leashes (sorry); and Just Say No to huge reptiles, snakes and exotic birds.
•Anti-tourist attitudes. True, lots of locals consider ECSC their own, but chill out & share the beach. "Keep the stoke; it's all good."
Cameras: Do's & Don'ts-
•DO: Telephoto lenses (for obvious reasons)
•DO: Bring "Fast" speed film. Still using film, old school? Sunny days on white sand beaches is too much light. (need at least 400 ISO rated film).
•DO: Better yet-what are you waiting for?- Go digital already.
•DO: Bring compressed air to "blast" away sand grains if you should get some on the camera or in the workings of the camera.
•DO: Consider plastic bags for your cameras. Zip-lock larger freezer bags will keep out sand and any moisture. Better yet, Skippy, get a real camera bag.
How to dress-
•Like it's the last, best hope for a late-summer beach party. Because it is.
•T-Shirt, shorts, sandals. A "Hawaiian luau" shirt is only OK for guys over 40.
•Bring a pull-over or a sweatshirt in case of cool evening or rain •An old ECSC shirt from years ago is OK to wear
•Stop by Coastal Edge or the Vendor Village and get out-fitted right
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